Bangkok

12 Aug Bangkok
The journey to Bangkok, well what a day (and a half).
Bit sad to be leaving Corfu but also happy (really happy) Hey got my money back on the motorbike rental which was not used, how good is that, it was a little unexpected (loved the bike).

What a saga of a trip
7am bus from Kasiopi to Corfu then taxi to airport (saved 50 Euro on the taxi fare);11:20 flight to Gatwick Bus to Heathrow;7pm flight to Tokyo ( hey that means I have been to Japan does that mean I can get another patch on my bag); and 6pm connection to Bangkok; arrived at motel after midnight so that’s 37 hours or so, very little sleep, there was this guy next to me who on the last leg who maybe had Terets Syndrone poor bloke, but he was twitching all the way and making noises, no sleep, soooo sleepy but couldn’t sleep when I arrived (different time zone I guess.

The Motel room at Rambaturri Village Inn is ok (lots better than the Pensions, aircon double bed luxury), however not as plush as the Viengtai Motel, up the rich end of the street. There is a bit of rain about especially in the afternoon still a bit monsoonal I think.

What a difference from Europe and Greece, drivers are still mad but mainly took took, and scooters. Arrived on a public holiday (day after someone’s birthday (maybe the Queen) I thought this might restrict my entry into some places, but with my Linda luck!! Bumped into a nice local bloke ( they are all so friendly ) who pointed out to me that because of the holiday and to promote tourism a lot of the places had free entry and I had a (Government) took took for about 2 hours for 10 Batt that’s about 30c Aus, how good is that. Although I did help him out by stopping at a couple of shops that gave him a petrol ticket, least I could do. And I saw the lucky Buddha (don’t need it because I now have Linda luck rubbed off on me) and the 45 ft tall Buddha (big golden guy).

The food is sooo good, I don’t know what to eat noodles, curry, heaps of great food off the Machan Carts, so reminds me of my life when I lived in Malaysia, different smells it’s fantastic as I walk around. Oh yeh and tonight I’m going to try some fried grasshoppers and other bugs they look sooo good at the street markets at Koa San Rd (wish me luck). When I was out socialising I met a couple of kids on a world tour, off to an orphanage in Cambodia for 5 weeks first, how good is that, they were only kids but are doing their bit by giving some back. The only problem I have is in the evening in the markets or at night if I’m having a drink I’m targeted, I guess because I’m a middle aged male alone, grrr everyone thinks I want a girl.. .. (both by the girls and their pimps) It’s not right, and it’s sad; I bet the girls who are alone don’t get approached! I need a sign saying I’m attached and I’m really happy.

The plan is to go to spend today seeing the sights in Bangkok and to go to Chatuchak Markets tomorrow before my flight. There is no doubt I want to come back there is so much to see, I want to get out of the city into northern Thailand and perhaps into Laos.